With Kona behind us and colder months looming ahead, northern hemisphere triathletes are discovering that the opportunity for a warm daylight workout session is quickly being replaced with tenebrous training schedules. As each workout becomes subject to harsh winter weather the key to staying safe, snug and stoked lies deep within your stockpile of cold weather training gear and 2XU is eager to keep you in the training game.

2XU Winter Beanie

Ditch your visor in favor of this cold weather training staple. It keeps sweat away from your eyes all the while keeping you safe with its reflective highlights. Plus it helps to keep you warm. Duh.

2XU Active 360 Run Jacket

Lightweight and all sorts of shiny, the Active 360 Run Jacket will keep you comfortable during the entirety of your workout. Constructed with a warm jersey lining the Active 360 features large vents under the arms to help circulate air through the jacket while you run, keeping your microclimate comfy and cool, not sticky and sweaty. The jacket has only 1 small zip pocket, suitable for keys, but it remains fairly difficult to access making it unideal for storing nutrition. Perfect for short to medium runs the Active 360 will have you training safely and stylishly.

2XU Sub Zero Cycle Jacket

There comes a point in the season where a jersey and arm warmers simply don’t insulate enough. While I don’t recommend cycling in negative degree weather, the Sub Zero Cycle Jacket is designed to do precisely that (albeit as 2XU is Australian they are most likely referencing Celsius, not Fahrenheit). One of the most thought out cycling jacket designs that I’ve seen, the Sub Zero angles its rear pockets allowing easy access while riding and keeps those pockets deep so you can keep extra tubes and nutrition on your back without the fear that they will eject when you hit a rough patch in the road. Comfortably lined with fleece the jacket stays true to 2XU’s design strategy of stitching their garments along the lines of what can be considered a “performance cut”, all at once making it both form fitting and sleek looking.

2XU Men’s Racer Track Pant

When you realize that the idea of leaving your warm and comfy bed to face the stinging winter elements to be shielded by only the thin protection of your summer run shorts isn’t the most motivating means to begin your morning it’s time for a wardrobe upgrade. The Racer Track Pant from 2XU is designed to keep you motivated no matter what the outdoor conditions may be. A basic track pant design, the Racer features two zippered side pockets and drawstring cinching, but where the pant sets itself apart are the outstanding “3D Thermal Knit” high filament polyester yarns. This unique construction will regulate your temperature from the cold and chilly first mile to your steamy and sweaty triumphant finish, meaning that your body will be at a comfortable temperature throughout your workout. Suddenly leaving the shelter of your snug sheets becomes that much easier knowing that you’re perfectly outfitted to battle back against whatever winter weather you may find yourself facing.

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What is 2XU Perform Compression?
2XU has created the first weapon in the arsenal of compression wear to utilize a combination of 50/70 denier fabric in conjunction with the properties found in a circular knit garment, resulting in superior fit, breathability and race-day performance gains. The Perform from 2XU doesn’t simply compress to impress but rather applies an ideal amount of pressure at the body’s extremities so that the levels of graduated mmHg (millimeters of mercury) enhances a healthy body’s circulatory system while augmenting muscle position and response, all without sacrificing range of motion.

Why Perform?

2XU created these race ready and high intensity training garments to assist athletes in four specific ways.

The improvement in a healthy circulatory system results in faster warm-up times, working with your body to actually increase the venous return to the heart and lymph to the lymph nodes.

Perform aids the body’s natural sense of proprioception by stimulating nerve receptors in the limbs, giving greater feedback and response as to where various body parts/limbs are at any given time.

The PWX fabric used in the construction of Perform garments utilize a graduated compressive design and a circular knit process which naturally regulates the body’s tempurature, providing better cooling and warmth regardless of region or climate.

PXR Fabric:
Within each line of PXR compression garments 2XU has made use of one of three, or a combination of, their proprietary PWX fabric. This fabric, constructed from superior medical grade circular knit Invista Sport Lycra, has 4 times the durability when compared to elastane found in other garments. In addition to the PWX fabric’s durability 2XU utilizes 50 and 70 Denier Lycra in the construction of it’s Perform garments, where competitors use 30/40 Denier, representing a thicker yarn that delivers a stronger compressive effect across all PWX garments. The Perform garments utilize the PWX FLEX fabric whose elastomeric yarns, when wet from sweat, separate from each other, resulting in increased flexibility and breathability (moisture/vapor transmission). Perform is designed to offer the ideal amount of compression and range of motion for competition and training.

As part of the new “PXR” 2XU Compression line, the 2XU Compression Quad Sleeve (Perform) is unisex, versatile, and great for active use to promote the plethora of compression benefits during activity.

Constructed with 2XU’s new fabric, PWX – POWER, WEIGHT, FLEX – this compression piece is arguably a favorite among triathletes because of the ability to isolate a single muscle group that’s prone to soreness during and post activity. This isolation helps you increase overall blood flow to the area and reduce muscle oscillation.

2XU Compression is packaged and labeled to easily identify its function for athletic use. Here, the P stands for Perform, or active use.

Increased Performance
During exercise, your muscles are exposed to vibration. This major cause of muscle fatigue, known as muscle oscillation can be reduced when wearing 2XU Compression garments. This leads to improved muscle endurance, strength, power output and lower heart rate for greater performance.

What is Refresh?
Swelling, muscle degradation, soreness. Every athlete has experienced each of these symptoms and to vary degrees based on each individuals unique level of exertion and natural recovery cycle. The Refresh compression garments from 2XU separate themselves from the already impressive Perform and Xform garments who use 50/70 Denier Lycra in their construction by utilizing a 150 Denier circular knit fabric to provide the highest form of compressive power and stability found in the sports industry. This rigidity augments your natural circulatory flow, enhancing the body’s natural recovery abilities all the while providing the correct level of compression so that the garment may be worn comfortably over prolonged periods of time.

Why Refresh?

Have you every asked your self: What is the best recovery tights? or What is the best recovery socks? From my experience and based on what I’ve read I think 2XU Refresh products should rank well because they seem to put thought and effort into creating their products.

According to 2XU and studies by the Australian Institute of Sport, in approximately 1 hour of wearing a Refresh garment:

A significant decrease in and clearing of blood lactate

Decrease in exercise-related swelling/blood pooling

Decreased perception of muscle soreness.

Simply stated, Refresh gets you back training in better shape with less muscle fatigue. Research has shown that the average femoral vein blood flow may be increased to as much as 138.4% base line when a compression garment has graduated pressure ratings of 18mmHg at the ankles and 8mmHg at the thigh. The Refresh line of recovery garments delivers this level of pressure, meant for a healthy circulatory system, instead of the highest level of pressure found in medical garments, which may inhibit blood flow in a normally healthy athlete, removing any perceived or substantial recovery benefit. The Refresh by 2XU is a purposeful engineered garment and is designed to apply consistent, graduated pressure with the highest quality and longest lasting construction. After wearing Refresh recovery garments it is clear that not every compression garment has been created equal.

PXR Fabric:
Within each line of PXR compression garments 2XU has made use of one of three, or a combination of, their proprietary PWX fabric. This fabric, constructed from superior medical grade circular knit Invista Sport Lycra, has 4 times the durability when compared to elastane found in other garments. Competitor’s fabrics, built from Nylon or elastane yarn may feel “tight” after a first use, however over time these garments struggle to maintain previous adequate levels of pressure, making them a poor investment for the savvy athlete. Refresh’s 150 Denier PWX Power construction results in a compressive garment that will continue to provide recovery benefits long after similar competitor garments have lost their elasticity, lending to 2XU’s trademark, “It’s In Our Fabric”.

Based in Melbourne, Australia, the philosophy of 2XU has been to promote human performance through competition and training. Making a name for itself by crafting wetsuits, compression, and athletic apparel, their functional quality and cool factor is uncompromisingly delivered as an end product.

Through the years, they’ve partnered with heavyweights such as the Australian Institute of Sports and other research scientists, leading 2XU to industry recognition, and most recently becoming the official compression partner of the Ironman brand.

Introduction to Compression

With roots in medicine, compression apparel has found application in sports and competition, aiding athletes to perform better and recover faster.

2XU has redefined the compression category by sourcing and working with the right fabric for varying stages of athletic performance. 2XU’s latest fabric – PWX – which stands for Power, Weight, and Flex, offers different denier gauged fabric, providing different levels of mmHg to narrowly tailor toward the specific needs of an athlete. This has been the design philosophy of the new 2XU compression, making it one of the unique product in the industry.

How 2XU Compression Works:

The design of 2XU’s compression is graduated – it’s more compressive at the extremities to encourage and enhance venous return, pushing de-oxygenated blood back to the heart while also allowing the arteries to relax to deliver oxygenated blood to improve overall circulation.

Designed for active use, this category focuses on dampening muscle oscillation during performance. This unique fabric offers great breath-ability, moisture management, and flexibility to keep the wearer comfortable and focused on performance.

Combining the fabrics from both Active and Refresh, XFORM is powerful and breathable, providing support to dampen muscles oscillation, and more efficient delivery of oxygenated blood to fatigued muscles.

Constructed with high denier fabric, the Refresh category is the gold standard for compression apparel, as the recovery phase is where its athletic use began. The application is vast, as it can be used post workout, during long travel (to prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis), during sleep to maximize muscle repair and recovery, and rehabilitation from injury or surgery.

Say hello to the 2XU Elite Compression Tights. This tight is not simply your average compression, but part of a newly designed line by 2XU called PXR (Perform, XFORM, Refresh). In particular, the XFORM garments give you the benefit of two-in-one compression. It is designed as an Active + Recovery tight. This means that the grade of compression and construction of the tight is designed to be used while training, as well as post-workout recovery. How is this possible? This is done through varying levels of fabric denier (thickness of a fabric) as well as level of graduated compression. Essentially, a strictly recovery garment would have the highest level of deniers as well as compression. The strictly active line would have the lowest. The XFORM, falling in between, has just the right amount of compression for recovery, while having the flexibility to train in them.

Specs on the tight:

For athletes demanding more power + support while offering breathability

Wearing compression during activity comes with a plethora of benefits. The first being what I would consider the greatest benefit, increased performance. Our muscles are exposed to vibration during training which in turn causes what is known as muscle oscillation. By reducing this, 2XU Compression has scientifically proven improved muscle endurance, strength, power output and lower heart rate for greater performance. Other added bonuses from compression include: heightened agility, as well as increased comfort and protection. The fabrics are designed to wick moisture as well as come with antibacterial which is embedded in the material to keep any kind of bacterial growth at bay.

The largest benefit to wearing compression post exercise is the faster rate of recovery. This is done through aiding the pumping action of the cardiovascular system; removing blood lactate from exercising muscles leading to reduced swelling, allowing for faster muscle repair and reduction in muscle soreness.

Why spend money on two sets of compression when you can get the benefits of both in one?

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This is the 2XU Endurance Aero Tri Short. Indubitably a 2XU classic, the Endurance Aero Tri Short has all the comfort and features of a short that’s enough to withstand long courses and long training days.

This short’s inseam is 9″ long, and features 2 pockets for all your nutrition needs. Updated for 2011, this 2XU Aero Tri Short boasts the compressive yet breathable properties of 2XU’s revolutionary ICE X fabric. This short has a silicone elastic leg hem with adjustable waist drawstring and Italian long distance chamois combine to deliver an optimal fitting, long distance race short.

Compared to other shorts in its class for the length and 2 pockets, it’s a great value. Check out this short and others like it by checking out our tri short comparison chart.

Priced at $59.95, the 2XU Active Tri Short has an inseam of 7.5″, a thin fleece pad to keep it light for the bike and run, and has a silicone gripper to keep the short from riding up your leg. It’s made of elastane lycra, so it’s stretchy and comfortable upon wearing and use. It doesn’t have a pocket, so if you’re looking to go with this item for a non wetsuit swim, you can be sure it won’t slow you down.

Composed with 39 Cell Yamamoto Neoprene, the 2XU T2 wetsuit has rollbar, floating zip and transition panels coated with both SCS and 2xU’s proprietary SXS coating, making the suit slick and fast. The 2011 updates include strakes running down the chest to improve your direction in swim. This feature is cool, as it was unique to the V:1 from the past two years.The floating zip enhances flexibility in the back panel which allows the zip to move in partnership with the body, especially during the recovery and catch phase of the stroke.

On the legs, the panels are 3mm thick, giving the swimmer enough flexibility to run into transition and to remove the wetsuit. On the shoulder and arms, it’s 2mm, giving you the flexibility and range of motion you’ll need during your swim.

With all these updates, it’s fair to say that this is an entirely new suit! Back by 2XU’s 2 year warranty and wide range of sizes available, you can rest assured that you’re covered, for both defects and fit.

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Picture this: You’re a sophomore triathlete now with some mad masters honed swim skills, but you got mouths to feed/bills to pay/or you’re a student without a big budget, and you need wetsuit to replace the cheapest tri wetsuit you bought online last year. What to do? Wetsuits are tricky, but there’s a few things to keep in mind:

Fit – a proper fit in terms of wetsuits is worth almost everything. You’re looking to see what kind of panels the suit has, and where. You’re going to want to try it on to see how it feels. When buying online, you can usually return the wetsuit back to the retailer if it doesn’t fit after an initial try on – like with us at OneTri.com.

Material – Does it have Yamamoto Neoprene? Yamamoto neoprene is commonly used for its quality and SCS coating. It’s pretty common in wetsuit but not all triathlon wetsuits are made with Yamamoto which isn’t always a bad thing. What cell? With higher cell neoprene usually comes more flexibility. It usually also means that it is easier to tear because it has a higher density of air pockets in the neoprene. Common cell ratings are 38, 39, and 40. 39 is found in most mid to high level wetsuits. 40 is almost always found in high-end wetsuits in select areas due to its flexibility.

Coating – Does it have some sort of coating, such as SCS or the manufacturer’s proprietary coating?

With the above in mind, I’d like to introduce the 2XU R:1 Race wetsuit as a mid-level replacement or addition to what you currently own as part of your triathlon gear. Below is more of the 2XU R1 Wetsuit Review.

Features on the 2XU R:1 Race Wetsuit

This 2xu R1 wetsuit features Yamamoto 39 Cell Neoprene, and has 2XU’s proprietary coating throughout the suit. What this means is that you’re going to feel like an aquatic animal (think dolphins, seals, or if you’re so inclined, a shark) gliding through the water. On the forearm (the blue looking surface that runs from the wrist to the elbow), is a catch panel that helps you grab more water during the catch phase of your stroke. The catch panel feature it something you’ll probably never see on an entry-level suit.

As far as the thickness of the 2xu R1, in the shoulder area, it’s 1.5 mm, and along the torso and chest, it’s 4.5mm. This variance is aligned with mid to higher category suits, as the smaller 1.5 mm shoulder thickness is for greater flexibility, and the 4.5mm along the chest torso area is for buoyancy. The lines you see running down the chest are strakes that should help you going in a single direction. Backed by 2XU’s 2 year warranty, and wide range of available sizes (11 for men, 5 for women), this suit will fit most body types.

Piqued your interest? Go to OneTri.com to add the 2XU R:1 to your cart today to try it out for yourself!

More triathlon wetsuit resource links:

All triathlon wetsuits – OneTri.com offers one of the largest triathlon wetsuit selections in the nation (Current count is 11 brands).

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I just got a chance to test out the new 2XU V:2, and I’m wholeheartedly impressed with the design and feel of the suit. Like all the other 2XU suits, the fit is its most impressive attribute. Out of everyone I’ve personally fitted, 2XU suits fit people like a glove. For me, the fit translated to an easier and more comfortable swim out in the open water.

The most notable difference in 2XU suits this is that they all come standard with velocity strakes – helping with forward motion. Both the V:1 and Project X wetsuit from last year had them, but they’re now just standard all 2xu wetsuits.

Merit, material, and cut aside, it doesn’t take an experience triathlete to see the cool factor in this suit. The piping and design actually makes you stand out, which would help your friends and family pick you out from the crowd as your entering and exiting the water. This is always a bonus, unless, for some reason, you don’t want to be seen.

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